When developing an interviewing
strategy, it is important to recognize that an employment interview is a
two-way discussion, and you should feel on equal footing with the employer.
Your responses will be much better if you act on this premise. Being defensive
and subordinate will not enhance your bargaining position.
How, then, do you develop a frame of mind that enables you to have the confidence to do this ?. There are several things to realize :
a. The employer has a need to fill a position in order to make the organization function. The employer is going to considerable lengths to hire someone who can best fill that need and it's to the employer's benefit to hire. Presumably, it will cost the employer money if a good candidate is not hired. Thus, it is imperative for you to recognize that you can help the employer, given the opportunity.
b. You have made a considerable investment already in preparing for employment. For example, you have spent at least 16 years of your life getting an education so that you can be productive as an employee. You have taken specialized courses to help you produce for the employer. You have made a tremendous financial investment in preparing for this employment. That is no small contribution. You are prepared to put all of your education, experience and know-how into the job. Just as the employer will make a significant contribution to your well being, so too, will you be contributing to your employer's success and accomplishments.
c. Remember that the interviewer will do all he or she can to make the job opportunity as attractive as possible should you be the desired candidate for employment. By the same token you must make sure all your positive points are well known so the employer can evaluate you in the best light possible. You must also collect all the information you can about the employer to help yourself match your qualifications with the needs of the employer and to help yourself make a decision should an offer be extended.
d. Above all, think positively when going into the interview.
2. Be Prepared
If you are planning on entering a
job interview without a great deal of preparation, you are selling yourself
short. There are some who can "wing it" but most of us add to our
competitive edge by doing homework before the interview.
The ultimate goal of an effective
job campaign is landing a position that matches your likes and interests. The
objective of the interview is to provide a mutual understanding between you and
the employer which is the main vehicle for the job offer.
Interviews vary depending upon
the interviewer and the stage of development in your job campaign. For example,
the first interview may be a screening session, so an initial applicant pool of
many prospects is screened to a desired few. This is usually accomplished by a
member of the employer's personnel department, especially if you are a walk-in
candidate. Or this task may be completed at a campus placement office.
Sometimes, if you represent a specialized discipline such as accounting or
engineering, the initial interview will be conducted by an accountant or
engineer.
Usually, the next interview is
performed with staff from the employing department, normally at the site of the
employer's choosing. This is often referred to as an on-site or plant
interview. When you go to an interview, remember the following tips :
a. Always take resumes with you
when you have an interview, just in case the person talking with you does not
have one. At the plant visitation, you may have several interviews with
numerous individuals or groups of employers. Be prepared to take psychological
tests during these visits, if the employer resorts to such selection
techniques.
b. When preparing for the
interview, be sure to check all available materials you can obtain on the
employer - the annual report, brochures on the product line, locations of
facilities, profitability, organizational structure, etc. If you have an
opportunity to know the selection criteria before the interview, and this
information is frequently made available by the employer in their
advertisements and job descriptions, study them carefully to organize your
presentation. If you can talk with some current employee of the organization
beforehand, this could also be helpful.
c. Be properly groomed. Make sure
your clothing is consistent with the general attire of employees working for
the organization. Good personal hygiene is an absolute.
d. If you have to present any
materials in the interview, be sure they are professionally prepared and
presented in an attractive manner.
e. Arrive on time. Allow for
possible parking problem. Do not arrive a half hour early - five minutes before
interview time is about right. Ia a restroom is nearby, check your attire and
grooming beforehand.
f. If the interview takes place
at lunch or dinner, avoid alcoholic beverages and smoking as a general rule.
3. Be Smart
A great deal of effort goes into
the job hunt - preparing the resume, networking, researching, letter writing -
but nothing is as important as the interview. This is where the decision is
made to hire you. Many people put considerable energy into the job search
factors mentioned above but not enough thought and effort into the interview
itself.
You can improve your interviewing
skills with practice and by using some common sense "smarts". There
are a few key points to remember :
a. Relax. Avoid last minute
rushes. Advance preparation breeds confidence. After having a few interview,
you will soon feel more at ease and confident.
b. Be yourself. Trying to put on
a false face during the interview won't work. You will also feel more
comfortable answering questions when you are honest and sincere in your
responses. To have a "canned" response to certain questions can only
backfire in the long run.
c. Market yourself. All of your
responses should relate your qualifications to the job available. Fifty percent
of the conversation should be yours. Do not reluctant to initiate subjects that
will enhance your chances.
d. prepare for the interview by
knowing what your responses will be to certain questions. Also, identify
questions you will want to ask. Build a bridge between the job and you.
e. Avoid controversial subjects.
Don't belabor a cause in which you may have an interest if it doesn't fit into
the flow of the interview.
f. Be sure all of your good
qualities are known before you end the interview. Some interviewers miss
important qualifications in a candidate and it behooves you to make sure that
doesn't happen. Have your accomplishments firmly in mind before the interview
so you can relate them to the job.
g. Don't speak negatively about
your peers, former employers, faculty or other employers. Keep an upbeat and
positive approach to all you say in the interview.
h. End the interview with a
course of action. Make sure you have closure. This can be when next the
interviewer will contact you, when the interviewer will arrange an on-site
visit, even rejection. Also, be sure you know what your next step is and when
you are to take a certain course of action. In short, summarize what you and
the interviewer have decided.
4. Be Careful
The results of an interview are
predicated on more than an exchange of words. For example, what you say is
important, but how you say it can be equally important. Do you show enthusiasm,
energy and interest ?. These can be shown in how you respond to a question as
well as what your words are. Your attire, grooming, cleanliness, body
languange, posture, walk, handshake, eye-to-eye contact, choice of words,
speech characteristics, breath, cooperativeness, courtesies you extend, ad
infinitum - all go into the hopper before you land a job.
Interviewers not only seek to
hire people, they also screen out candidates. Exclusive of all your skills,
education and experience, negative factors that will screen you out of a job
are :
- Poor appearance
- Poor attitude
- Indications of dishonesty
- Bad-mouthing others
- Lack of enthusiasm
- Tardiness
- Excessive aggressiveness
- Suspected instability
- Body odor
- Questionable eating or drinking habits
- Indications of lack of dependability
- Indecisiveness
Do all recruiters put the same
value on these factors ?. No, it varies with the person. You can reduce the
wash-out risk by avoiding the above during the interview. Many interviewers put
more emphasis on screening out candidates than screening in, so avoid those
factors likely to eliminate you - and thereby enhance your chances of getting
hired.
